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Safety in Numbers
When a tragic accident leaves mathematician Seraphina Ellis broken and despairing, she is convinced that she will live out the remainder of her life in lonely solitude. Determined to conceal her disability from her co-workers, she hides away in her desolate cubicle, crossing off the days of her life, unfulfilled and defeated.
A chance meeting with irascible but mesmerizing billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant provides her with the job of her dreams, and the chance of escape from cubicle land. But Grant is haunted by his own monsters and is increasingly interested in more than just her mathematical magic.
In this touching and sexually charged contemporary romance novel, Sophie Penhaligon manages to deliver a novel that is lighthearted and fun whilst dealing with the difficult topics of loss and disability.
A chance meeting with irascible but mesmerizing billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant provides her with the job of her dreams, and the chance of escape from cubicle land. But Grant is haunted by his own monsters and is increasingly interested in more than just her mathematical magic.
In this touching and sexually charged contemporary romance novel, Sophie Penhaligon manages to deliver a novel that is lighthearted and fun whilst dealing with the difficult topics of loss and disability.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2022
46 people are currently reading
1287 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Penhaligon
8 books59 followersSophie Penhaligon was born and raised in England but has lived in Canada for over 20 years. She enjoys reading and writing sweet and sexy romance novels with loveable characters and interesting locations.
You can find out more about Sophie's books by visiting her website: https://sophiepenhaligon.com where you can sign up to join her mailing list.
You can find out more about Sophie's books by visiting her website: https://sophiepenhaligon.com where you can sign up to join her mailing list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
December 8, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this arc.
I found Safety in Numbers to be an easy, sweet romance read. The main character Seraphina is coping with aphasia (loss of use of words) as a result of her traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident a year previous.
While she has her arsenal of work-arounds and coping tools, she's determined to live as independently as possible and start to work again. She ends up at Grant Technologies and naturally comes to the CEO's attention (it's a romance).
Once she starts working directly under Milo Grant (CEO), her TBI kinda falls to the wayside as the romance develops. Naturally, Milo has some issues of his own, but it felt like they were thrown in more to balance the characters rather than something heavy.
Overall, I found this a medium/low angst and predictable (it's a romance!) read.
3.0 stars
I found Safety in Numbers to be an easy, sweet romance read. The main character Seraphina is coping with aphasia (loss of use of words) as a result of her traumatic brain injury suffered in a car accident a year previous.
While she has her arsenal of work-arounds and coping tools, she's determined to live as independently as possible and start to work again. She ends up at Grant Technologies and naturally comes to the CEO's attention (it's a romance).
Once she starts working directly under Milo Grant (CEO), her TBI kinda falls to the wayside as the romance develops. Naturally, Milo has some issues of his own, but it felt like they were thrown in more to balance the characters rather than something heavy.
Overall, I found this a medium/low angst and predictable (it's a romance!) read.
3.0 stars
December 10, 2021
I got an arc for this book from net galley. This is the review that I posted on there because I do not have the energy to write a separate one for goodreads.
I decided to read this book, because I saw that the main character had a brain injury which means she is disabled. As a disabled person myself, I'm always looking for more disability representation in books.
This book had me feeling a bit iffy from the beginning about how the disability rep was going to be handled. For example, the description of this book describes Seraphina (the one with the brain injury) as broken. I didn't like that, but I decided to give this book the benefit of the doubt and read it anyway.
This book was infuriating to read. The main character says and thinks things that are ableist so frequently that it's so uncomfortable for me, a disabled person, to read. Throughout the book it was clear that Seraphina was extremely ashamed of being disabled, which that's fine. A lot of disabled people have felt like that, especially when they first become disabled or when they first realize it. But I wanted this book to end up Seraphina being proud of herself and her disability, and that just didn't happen. She kept repeating over and over again how nobody would want to date her because she is disabled and I get that. I really do. But I wanted her to realize that thinking this is wrong at the end and she just didn't.
I made so many notes on the last 50 pages and pretty much all of them are me screaming and not in a good way. I'm not gonna describe all of my notes because I do not have the energy for that, but yeah I expected better from this book.
I decided to read this book, because I saw that the main character had a brain injury which means she is disabled. As a disabled person myself, I'm always looking for more disability representation in books.
This book had me feeling a bit iffy from the beginning about how the disability rep was going to be handled. For example, the description of this book describes Seraphina (the one with the brain injury) as broken. I didn't like that, but I decided to give this book the benefit of the doubt and read it anyway.
This book was infuriating to read. The main character says and thinks things that are ableist so frequently that it's so uncomfortable for me, a disabled person, to read. Throughout the book it was clear that Seraphina was extremely ashamed of being disabled, which that's fine. A lot of disabled people have felt like that, especially when they first become disabled or when they first realize it. But I wanted this book to end up Seraphina being proud of herself and her disability, and that just didn't happen. She kept repeating over and over again how nobody would want to date her because she is disabled and I get that. I really do. But I wanted her to realize that thinking this is wrong at the end and she just didn't.
I made so many notes on the last 50 pages and pretty much all of them are me screaming and not in a good way. I'm not gonna describe all of my notes because I do not have the energy for that, but yeah I expected better from this book.
January 7, 2022
A nice and simple read with some bonus points for checking out salient topics such as STEM & women, TBI & aphasia, coming out (not with what people usually do :) ) and the rest of it all.
January 15, 2023
2 ⭐️ A sweet story, but it wasn't executed well
I received an e-ARC of this story on NetGalley in the Fall of 2021, and I finally finished one year later. Sorry, it took me so long to write this review.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Scientist FMC with brain injury
✨ CEO/Scientist MMC
✨ Office-romance
✨ Boss x Employee
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ past trauma (emotional and physical)
✨ healing journeys
✨ spice
What I liked:
I really enjoyed the premise behind the story. A young woman suffering from a brain injury learns she is perfect just the way she is and is capable of living a fulfilled life. A CEO learns how to open his heart and what it’s like to be cared for. These main characters had a lot of potential.
I truly adored Seraphina and Milo together. They both had some things to work through, and this led to some emotional moments. Seraphina's love and guilt over the accident and her struggles with her injuries were heartbreaking. Milo’s past familial trauma was terribly sad. Both their stories gave me the feels. But how they supported and listened to one another was lovely.
What I didn't like:
The story often felt forced. Milo and Seraphina would do or say things that were out of character in order to push the story along. For example, Milo (a notorious asshole CEO who never gives anyone the time of day) happened to talk to Seraphina in a crowded elevator. Or when Seraphine (notorious for her habits and sticking to a schedule to create a sense of normalcy in her life) invites Milo up to her apartment after he drove her home, and they eat dinner and cuddle while watching tv - all things that are very unusual for her to do since she doesn’t have any friends. Or when Seraphina, who is nervous about interacting with people, in general, feels comfortable enough to have sex with her boss after only working with him for 2 months and has gone on one date.
The author repeated a lot of mundane information that we already know. I found it annoying.
There were times when background information was mentioned and then later on repeated, but then it went into further detail. It happened a lot and made the story feel disjointed.
It took a really long time to like Milo. I was specifically thrown off by how much we were supposed to dislike him. We were repeatedly told how big of an asshole he was, how he likes to have regular sex with escorts, and how he has anger problems. But there was no explanation as to why he was this way until later. But by that time, I already had a very negative opinion of him. Now, after I’ve read the story, I get it. I feel for the guy, and I’m happy he’s in a happy relationship, but I was not rooting for him for a while.
Milo’s descriptions of how petite, weightless, and hairless (down by her pussy) Seraphina was gave me the ick. I HATE when books describe women through what women think is the male gaze. Guys don’t think or talk like that. At least, not any guys I know.
The dirty talk was sometimes cringe. “You are hugging me so tight. Go easy, I don’t want to bruise you.” I’m sorry, bruise her pussy? Wtf? That’s weird. That’s not a common thing, let alone something you mention during the first time you have sex with someone.
The conflict at the end wasn’t very dramatic. It was centered on character growth, which was fine and all, but there were no consequences for the person who spurred it on - Kendall. Bitch should have been fired.
I’m conflicted as to why Sera had to apologize to Milo for her freakout. She has been through so much - losing her mom tragically and having a life-altering brain injury. She is allowed time to have freakouts and time to adjust. I just hated some of the dialogue that was around that described her as being foolish. The people who said this had the best intentions and weren’t wrong in their assessment of Seraphine during her meltdown. However, the way it was written wasn’t quite right or sensitive to someone in this situation.
Overall, I think this story has a few good qualities, but it needed more work. The story was mainly lacking development in the plot and romance. I do like how the author writes in general, but I’d just want it to be more fleshed out and sensitive to the characters and their situations.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
I received an e-ARC of this story on NetGalley in the Fall of 2021, and I finally finished one year later. Sorry, it took me so long to write this review.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ Scientist FMC with brain injury
✨ CEO/Scientist MMC
✨ Office-romance
✨ Boss x Employee
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨ past trauma (emotional and physical)
✨ healing journeys
✨ spice
What I liked:
I really enjoyed the premise behind the story. A young woman suffering from a brain injury learns she is perfect just the way she is and is capable of living a fulfilled life. A CEO learns how to open his heart and what it’s like to be cared for. These main characters had a lot of potential.
I truly adored Seraphina and Milo together. They both had some things to work through, and this led to some emotional moments. Seraphina's love and guilt over the accident and her struggles with her injuries were heartbreaking. Milo’s past familial trauma was terribly sad. Both their stories gave me the feels. But how they supported and listened to one another was lovely.
What I didn't like:
The story often felt forced. Milo and Seraphina would do or say things that were out of character in order to push the story along. For example, Milo (a notorious asshole CEO who never gives anyone the time of day) happened to talk to Seraphina in a crowded elevator. Or when Seraphine (notorious for her habits and sticking to a schedule to create a sense of normalcy in her life) invites Milo up to her apartment after he drove her home, and they eat dinner and cuddle while watching tv - all things that are very unusual for her to do since she doesn’t have any friends. Or when Seraphina, who is nervous about interacting with people, in general, feels comfortable enough to have sex with her boss after only working with him for 2 months and has gone on one date.
The author repeated a lot of mundane information that we already know. I found it annoying.
There were times when background information was mentioned and then later on repeated, but then it went into further detail. It happened a lot and made the story feel disjointed.
It took a really long time to like Milo. I was specifically thrown off by how much we were supposed to dislike him. We were repeatedly told how big of an asshole he was, how he likes to have regular sex with escorts, and how he has anger problems. But there was no explanation as to why he was this way until later. But by that time, I already had a very negative opinion of him. Now, after I’ve read the story, I get it. I feel for the guy, and I’m happy he’s in a happy relationship, but I was not rooting for him for a while.
Milo’s descriptions of how petite, weightless, and hairless (down by her pussy) Seraphina was gave me the ick. I HATE when books describe women through what women think is the male gaze. Guys don’t think or talk like that. At least, not any guys I know.
The dirty talk was sometimes cringe. “You are hugging me so tight. Go easy, I don’t want to bruise you.” I’m sorry, bruise her pussy? Wtf? That’s weird. That’s not a common thing, let alone something you mention during the first time you have sex with someone.
The conflict at the end wasn’t very dramatic. It was centered on character growth, which was fine and all, but there were no consequences for the person who spurred it on - Kendall. Bitch should have been fired.
I’m conflicted as to why Sera had to apologize to Milo for her freakout. She has been through so much - losing her mom tragically and having a life-altering brain injury. She is allowed time to have freakouts and time to adjust. I just hated some of the dialogue that was around that described her as being foolish. The people who said this had the best intentions and weren’t wrong in their assessment of Seraphine during her meltdown. However, the way it was written wasn’t quite right or sensitive to someone in this situation.
Overall, I think this story has a few good qualities, but it needed more work. The story was mainly lacking development in the plot and romance. I do like how the author writes in general, but I’d just want it to be more fleshed out and sensitive to the characters and their situations.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an e-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! As always, all opinions are my own.
January 11, 2022
the fact that the (h) Seraphina had a brain disability, which was being brought up again and again, really ruined the vibe of the book for me.
Like I get it, you don’t need to repeat it after everything you say or do.
Also the (H) Milo, was cringey……
This book was just not for me
“Why am I surrounded by incompetent motherfuckers?” Throwing myself heavily into my chair, I put my head in my hands. I was suddenly aware of Seraphina standing beside me, apparently concerned.
.
.
.
“I’m hungry and I have a headache,” I grumbled like a petulant child.
.
.
.
I could only guess it was a combination of essential oils. I could definitely smell lavender and mint, plus something else I couldn’t identify. My chair reclined a little, and she stood behind me, placing her hands on my temples and massaging in circles. “What are you doing?” I mumbled, feeling myself relax.
“Shh,” she soothed. “I’m getting rid of the motherfuckers.”
Like I get it, you don’t need to repeat it after everything you say or do.
Also the (H) Milo, was cringey……
This book was just not for me
“Why am I surrounded by incompetent motherfuckers?” Throwing myself heavily into my chair, I put my head in my hands. I was suddenly aware of Seraphina standing beside me, apparently concerned.
.
.
.
“I’m hungry and I have a headache,” I grumbled like a petulant child.
.
.
.
I could only guess it was a combination of essential oils. I could definitely smell lavender and mint, plus something else I couldn’t identify. My chair reclined a little, and she stood behind me, placing her hands on my temples and massaging in circles. “What are you doing?” I mumbled, feeling myself relax.
“Shh,” she soothed. “I’m getting rid of the motherfuckers.”
February 21, 2022
Thank you, author, for the advance reading copy.
It's a fun read for me. However, I feel there's a lack of communication between the main characters.
I find the writing really fun and engaging.
A dramatic romance read for a long weekend.
It's a fun read for me. However, I feel there's a lack of communication between the main characters.
I find the writing really fun and engaging.
A dramatic romance read for a long weekend.
December 20, 2021
3.75 stars 🌟.
Heroine was the best!!! Omg the trauma she went through. And I can’t tell you how brave and courageous she was. Like wise hero was such a brilliant but grumpy guy to everyone other than heroine. From beginning itself he treated her preciously. He was her pillar of strength.
I would say the angst and drama was low level but the book had depth and meaning.
My heart went out for heroine’s friend Billy.
Epilogue was so satisfying.
Safe, hot and recommended.
Heroine was the best!!! Omg the trauma she went through. And I can’t tell you how brave and courageous she was. Like wise hero was such a brilliant but grumpy guy to everyone other than heroine. From beginning itself he treated her preciously. He was her pillar of strength.
I would say the angst and drama was low level but the book had depth and meaning.
My heart went out for heroine’s friend Billy.
Epilogue was so satisfying.
Safe, hot and recommended.
January 4, 2022
I was drawn to Safety in Numbers by the allure of women in STEM, nerdy workplace romance, an underdog disability, and romantic slow burn. A brilliant mathematician and computer programmer applies for a job as research assistant to an equally brilliant and accomplished inventor. Unfortunately Seraphina Ellis’ initial introduction with the irascible Dr. Milo Grant, CEO of Grant Industries, meets with an abrupt dismissal. Little do they know that their past challenges make them perfect soul mates!
Here’s my reaction to this love story, by the numbers. At 25%, my tummy was thrumming with excitement because I sensed I had found someone who knew how to set me up to fall in love. At 50%, my heart was palpitating with the thrill of new love and fiery sexiness. At 75%, my core felt warmed by the connection between the two lovers as they came to understand how they complimented each other, filling in gaps created by their self-doubts. By 100%, my soul floated on the euphoria of an indelible bond and well-deserved happily ever after. Sophie Penhaligon is a new-to-me author who has won a new fan!
This is a voluntary and sincere review of an ARC downloaded from NetGalley.
Here’s my reaction to this love story, by the numbers. At 25%, my tummy was thrumming with excitement because I sensed I had found someone who knew how to set me up to fall in love. At 50%, my heart was palpitating with the thrill of new love and fiery sexiness. At 75%, my core felt warmed by the connection between the two lovers as they came to understand how they complimented each other, filling in gaps created by their self-doubts. By 100%, my soul floated on the euphoria of an indelible bond and well-deserved happily ever after. Sophie Penhaligon is a new-to-me author who has won a new fan!
This is a voluntary and sincere review of an ARC downloaded from NetGalley.
December 31, 2021
I’ve been in a reading slump lately and this book completely pulled me out of it. There’s a sense of comfort reading about Seraphina Ellis and Dr. Milo Grant’s love story. Two people who have lost so much, and navigating life to find what they miss. We learn about how Seraphina manages her personal life and work life with her disability, but how far can she push it? Milo Grant - asshole - is consumed by his new infatuation, but how can he get what he want and still shield himself?
This book is an easy-read, but it’s an incredibly good read filled with love, laughs and some tears. Sophie Penhaligon has done such amazing work writing a disability that’s not visible when you meet someone for the first time. To be someone who knows how this is, I feel like it was extremely well written and shed a light on something very important. I encourage everyone to read this book. This quickly became a favorite of mine.
*Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
This book is an easy-read, but it’s an incredibly good read filled with love, laughs and some tears. Sophie Penhaligon has done such amazing work writing a disability that’s not visible when you meet someone for the first time. To be someone who knows how this is, I feel like it was extremely well written and shed a light on something very important. I encourage everyone to read this book. This quickly became a favorite of mine.
*Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
January 4, 2022
DNF at 42%.
Seraphina Ellis received a traumatic brain injury in a car accident which has made interactions with others difficult. Faced with spontaneous choices she panics and so her life has become highly regimented with a daily meal plan, clothing selections and set routines for every part of daily life. Her stilted speech and social awkwardness mean that despite her brilliance as a mathematician she has a lowly cubicle job in a tech firm.
Milo Grant is a billionaire CEO of the tech company where Seraphina works, young, handsome and good-looking of course he comes with a bad personality, sacking assistants regularly and shouting/swearing at people.
Seraphina originally interviewed for the role as Milo's assistant but failed the interview. Having seen how Milo bit the head off of the HR woman when she tried to introduce them Seraphina is sort of glad she didn't get the job, even if the alternative is that she has an unfulfilling job and no friends. She even meets him in a lift one day on the way to her cubicle and he makes an unkind joke at her expense.
After firing yet another assistant Milo decides to get the head of HR to trawl their employees qualifications to find someone who can handle the work - surprise, surprise it is the mousey woman from the lift. When she starts work it turns out she is perfect for the role, far better than Milo could ever imagine and he finds the time he spends in the lab with her the best parts of his day.
All this sounds great right? STEM heroine meets flawed billionaire yadda, yadda, yadda.
Sadly, the execution was lacking. First, I got the distinct impression that this had been written as a serial because things were repeated. For example, Milo uses escort agencies because he got his heart crushed and he likes his romance transactional (what a charmer!). The reader gets told this more than once, I know he's a sleazebag you don't have to repeat it. Similarly, we hear about the girl in the next cubicle to Seraphina who reads out bits from gossip rags more than once as if this is news.
Second, Milo is rude to his employees and thinks that's okay, similarly Seraphina is very scathing about her fellow cubicle drones, who all made an effort to befriend her but she gave them the hard shoulder and speaks ill of them behind their backs (in her head but it totally counts).
Third and finally, the book feels as though it is almost entirely written as interior monologue of Milo and Seraphina, first he thinks about something, then she thinks about something. There's a lot of unnecessary descriptions of her hair and his hair etc, etc.
Overall, I began to dislike both characters so I decided to stop reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release and to correct typos.
Seraphina Ellis received a traumatic brain injury in a car accident which has made interactions with others difficult. Faced with spontaneous choices she panics and so her life has become highly regimented with a daily meal plan, clothing selections and set routines for every part of daily life. Her stilted speech and social awkwardness mean that despite her brilliance as a mathematician she has a lowly cubicle job in a tech firm.
Milo Grant is a billionaire CEO of the tech company where Seraphina works, young, handsome and good-looking of course he comes with a bad personality, sacking assistants regularly and shouting/swearing at people.
Seraphina originally interviewed for the role as Milo's assistant but failed the interview. Having seen how Milo bit the head off of the HR woman when she tried to introduce them Seraphina is sort of glad she didn't get the job, even if the alternative is that she has an unfulfilling job and no friends. She even meets him in a lift one day on the way to her cubicle and he makes an unkind joke at her expense.
After firing yet another assistant Milo decides to get the head of HR to trawl their employees qualifications to find someone who can handle the work - surprise, surprise it is the mousey woman from the lift. When she starts work it turns out she is perfect for the role, far better than Milo could ever imagine and he finds the time he spends in the lab with her the best parts of his day.
All this sounds great right? STEM heroine meets flawed billionaire yadda, yadda, yadda.
Sadly, the execution was lacking. First, I got the distinct impression that this had been written as a serial because things were repeated. For example, Milo uses escort agencies because he got his heart crushed and he likes his romance transactional (what a charmer!). The reader gets told this more than once, I know he's a sleazebag you don't have to repeat it. Similarly, we hear about the girl in the next cubicle to Seraphina who reads out bits from gossip rags more than once as if this is news.
Second, Milo is rude to his employees and thinks that's okay, similarly Seraphina is very scathing about her fellow cubicle drones, who all made an effort to befriend her but she gave them the hard shoulder and speaks ill of them behind their backs (in her head but it totally counts).
Third and finally, the book feels as though it is almost entirely written as interior monologue of Milo and Seraphina, first he thinks about something, then she thinks about something. There's a lot of unnecessary descriptions of her hair and his hair etc, etc.
Overall, I began to dislike both characters so I decided to stop reading.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release and to correct typos.
January 1, 2022
Safety in Numbers: ★ ★ ★
Sophie Penhaligon
"For me there was safety in numbers; you could always rely on them."
When Seraphina Ellis is hired as famed billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant's research assistant, a connection forms between the two of them that transcends the boundaries of what math, or any other science, can hope to explain.
There's a tragically low number of books about women in STEM, which is what drew me toward this book in the first place. I love seeing this kind of representation, and especially the added intrigue of Seraphina's brain injury and how that contributes to her ability to work. She deals with aphasia and struggles with her speech, which makes her life more difficult than others. Seraphina is a really sweet main character, who finds joy in her accomplishments and is very talented.
I loved how Milo gave her the opportunity to work in his lab, and gave her a chance. Despite being rude and difficult to literally everyone else, he was so soft for his fallen angel and that made my heart happier than I could ever explain. I absolutely love when the guy is soft for her and her only and Milo is a perfect example of that.
Personally, I thought the first part of the book dragged a little bit, but once the main characters met (in Chapter 7), I found it a lot more enjoyable. There's also a time jump where she ends up working for him for a couple months by Chapter 8 which kind of took me by surprise because I like to see relationships build and grow. As their friendship and connection grows, it's really tangible. From their slow growth, to some fire, all the way to the genuine bond that forms between the two. It's very sweet and satisfying to see.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Penhaligon
"For me there was safety in numbers; you could always rely on them."
When Seraphina Ellis is hired as famed billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant's research assistant, a connection forms between the two of them that transcends the boundaries of what math, or any other science, can hope to explain.
There's a tragically low number of books about women in STEM, which is what drew me toward this book in the first place. I love seeing this kind of representation, and especially the added intrigue of Seraphina's brain injury and how that contributes to her ability to work. She deals with aphasia and struggles with her speech, which makes her life more difficult than others. Seraphina is a really sweet main character, who finds joy in her accomplishments and is very talented.
I loved how Milo gave her the opportunity to work in his lab, and gave her a chance. Despite being rude and difficult to literally everyone else, he was so soft for his fallen angel and that made my heart happier than I could ever explain. I absolutely love when the guy is soft for her and her only and Milo is a perfect example of that.
Personally, I thought the first part of the book dragged a little bit, but once the main characters met (in Chapter 7), I found it a lot more enjoyable. There's also a time jump where she ends up working for him for a couple months by Chapter 8 which kind of took me by surprise because I like to see relationships build and grow. As their friendship and connection grows, it's really tangible. From their slow growth, to some fire, all the way to the genuine bond that forms between the two. It's very sweet and satisfying to see.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2021
I wasn't expecting Safety In Numbers to be as good as it was. That's something I shouldn't say. It's both what I expected and what I didn't expect. It was an intriguing and enjoyable read.
Seraphina Ellis applies for a position as a personal research assistant for Dr. Milo Grant. Despite this, her interview and attempts to speak with Dr. Grant did not go well. As a result, they assigned her to another department within the company, where she will work until a certain date.
Milo orders the director of human resources to examine all present employees to see if they possess the skills he seeks in a new assistant. Seraphina is the only one who matches his criteria. And he knows he made the proper choice when she solves a problem he's been stuck on in such a short amount of time.
She accepts the job, but she is obligated to inform him of her disability, even though she really doesn't want to. Milo, on the other hand, understands and will go out of his way to make her feel at ease.
Throughout the book, their connection blossomed even more. I admire how he respects her wishes, but she also needs someone to encourage and push her so she isn't afraid to do new things because of her disability.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
Seraphina Ellis applies for a position as a personal research assistant for Dr. Milo Grant. Despite this, her interview and attempts to speak with Dr. Grant did not go well. As a result, they assigned her to another department within the company, where she will work until a certain date.
Milo orders the director of human resources to examine all present employees to see if they possess the skills he seeks in a new assistant. Seraphina is the only one who matches his criteria. And he knows he made the proper choice when she solves a problem he's been stuck on in such a short amount of time.
She accepts the job, but she is obligated to inform him of her disability, even though she really doesn't want to. Milo, on the other hand, understands and will go out of his way to make her feel at ease.
Throughout the book, their connection blossomed even more. I admire how he respects her wishes, but she also needs someone to encourage and push her so she isn't afraid to do new things because of her disability.
*Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
December 29, 2021
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher BooksGoSocial for providing a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
1.5 stars
I had such high hopes for this book! The synopsis sounded so good, with disability rep and women in stem. I got my hopes up for a mix between The Love Hypothesis and the The Kiss Quotient. To be honest, I was let down.
Safety in Numbers follows Seraphina Ellis, a passionate young mathematician with aphasia. She applies for her dream job of a research assistant at a company owned by the ~moody broody~ CEO Milo Grant. Obviously, she catches his attention and they get all lovey dovey.
As you can see, the plot is extremely predictable. That's not necessarily bad, so if you're looking for a short quick romance (maybe a palate cleanser after a fantasy overload) this will do the trick. For me, this was incredibly disappointing.
If I could describe this book in one word it would be bland. The writing, the romance, even the spice!
The writing was bland too. So simple that it was risked stepping into Wattpad territory...
The romance was just lacking. It felt forced with such a predictably boring storyline that I was rolling my eyes. I had hope for Seraphina! But the disability rep was disappointing since Seraphina went through ZERO character development. She retained her ableist mindset throughout the whole book with no change. I could not take Milo seriously from the start with that name, I had to physically force myself to not imagine him as a green can of chocolate powder. He was so weirdly jealous for no reason. Don't get me wrong, I love the jealousy trope in books, loved it in FBAA, but here? It was so stupid, he yelled at some poor waiter for looking at Seraphina. Their "romance" was painfully cringey to read at times, which is saying something for me since I love heart melting romances.
Overall, I'd say read this expecting a quick, light, predictable romance. Also, ignore the disappointing representation of disabilities. Otherwise, enjoy!
Check out the review on my book blog!
1.5 stars
I had such high hopes for this book! The synopsis sounded so good, with disability rep and women in stem. I got my hopes up for a mix between The Love Hypothesis and the The Kiss Quotient. To be honest, I was let down.
Safety in Numbers follows Seraphina Ellis, a passionate young mathematician with aphasia. She applies for her dream job of a research assistant at a company owned by the ~moody broody~ CEO Milo Grant. Obviously, she catches his attention and they get all lovey dovey.
As you can see, the plot is extremely predictable. That's not necessarily bad, so if you're looking for a short quick romance (maybe a palate cleanser after a fantasy overload) this will do the trick. For me, this was incredibly disappointing.
If I could describe this book in one word it would be bland. The writing, the romance, even the spice!
The writing was bland too. So simple that it was risked stepping into Wattpad territory...
The romance was just lacking. It felt forced with such a predictably boring storyline that I was rolling my eyes. I had hope for Seraphina! But the disability rep was disappointing since Seraphina went through ZERO character development. She retained her ableist mindset throughout the whole book with no change. I could not take Milo seriously from the start with that name, I had to physically force myself to not imagine him as a green can of chocolate powder. He was so weirdly jealous for no reason. Don't get me wrong, I love the jealousy trope in books, loved it in FBAA, but here? It was so stupid, he yelled at some poor waiter for looking at Seraphina. Their "romance" was painfully cringey to read at times, which is saying something for me since I love heart melting romances.
Overall, I'd say read this expecting a quick, light, predictable romance. Also, ignore the disappointing representation of disabilities. Otherwise, enjoy!
Check out the review on my book blog!
January 1, 2022
If you enjoyed "The kiss quotient" then you'll adore this book.
Safety in numbers is a cute, sweet, and fast read about Seraphina Ellis, a mathematician, and computer science, suffering from a traumatic brain injury that left her mental disability that damaged her speech. And her boss, Dr. Milo Grant, is a hot, sexy, and intelligent scientist, CEO of Grant Industries, where Seffy works as a research assistant..
I personally loved the fact that mc has a disability, I felt more closer to her, knowing that she is a powerful, strong, and independent woman. Milo accepts her like she is, and he even protects and helps her.
Since the beginning of their love story, I smiled and felt happy.
"At that moment, I knew I had to have her. I didn’t care about her challenges or her past; I needed her to be mine."
I looking forward to Sophie Penhaligon's future books.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Safety in numbers is a cute, sweet, and fast read about Seraphina Ellis, a mathematician, and computer science, suffering from a traumatic brain injury that left her mental disability that damaged her speech. And her boss, Dr. Milo Grant, is a hot, sexy, and intelligent scientist, CEO of Grant Industries, where Seffy works as a research assistant..
I personally loved the fact that mc has a disability, I felt more closer to her, knowing that she is a powerful, strong, and independent woman. Milo accepts her like she is, and he even protects and helps her.
Since the beginning of their love story, I smiled and felt happy.
"At that moment, I knew I had to have her. I didn’t care about her challenges or her past; I needed her to be mine."
I looking forward to Sophie Penhaligon's future books.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 19, 2022
“Despite all this, there was no way I was going to admit to having a disability. I knew it would make things easier for me in the long run, and people would understand why I was the way I was, but I didn’t want to be seen as different. I didn’t want people to have to make allowances for me.”
✮✮✮✮✮
Seraphina Ellis’ life will never be normal again. She was in a tragic accident, where she developed a brain injury that affected her speech. As long as she can plan her answers she’s fine, which is not what happened at her job interview, but she ended up being offered a job in another department in the form. Months later, she has an awkward run in with the hot boss in the elevator, it was completely embarrassing! And just mere hours later, he’s offering her a job as his personal lab assistant - the job she had applied for in the first place!
Wow. I needed this book in my life. Seraphina was probably the most fascinating and intriguing character I have come across so far in 2022, and that’s saying A LOT considering this was my 13th book of the year!
The book had me laughing and crying and everything in between, from beginning to end! And I finished it in less than 24 hours… I think the book not only has everything romance tied up completely, but the reminder that because someone appears ordinary on the outside, may not mean they are struggling on the inside - whatever the issue may be.
I’m really glad both Seraphina and Milo got the endings they finally deserved ! Also this would make a fabulous film !
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, Sophie Penhaligon and @netgalley for providing me with a copy!
✮✮✮✮✮
Seraphina Ellis’ life will never be normal again. She was in a tragic accident, where she developed a brain injury that affected her speech. As long as she can plan her answers she’s fine, which is not what happened at her job interview, but she ended up being offered a job in another department in the form. Months later, she has an awkward run in with the hot boss in the elevator, it was completely embarrassing! And just mere hours later, he’s offering her a job as his personal lab assistant - the job she had applied for in the first place!
Wow. I needed this book in my life. Seraphina was probably the most fascinating and intriguing character I have come across so far in 2022, and that’s saying A LOT considering this was my 13th book of the year!
The book had me laughing and crying and everything in between, from beginning to end! And I finished it in less than 24 hours… I think the book not only has everything romance tied up completely, but the reminder that because someone appears ordinary on the outside, may not mean they are struggling on the inside - whatever the issue may be.
I’m really glad both Seraphina and Milo got the endings they finally deserved ! Also this would make a fabulous film !
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, Sophie Penhaligon and @netgalley for providing me with a copy!
January 17, 2022
I read and reviewed this book voluntarily from Net Galley.
Fresh off my enjoyment of The Love Hypothesis, Safety in Numbers seemed like the next logical choice for a STEM based romance. Our heroine Seraphina was brimming with intelligence and had a gentle heart as big as her brain. This book had the nice gentle pace of a rowboat in comparison to the fast paced waverunner romances I’ve read this year. The full throttle books lacked character development and offered no friendship alongside the couple’s chemistry, thankfully Safety in Numbers delivered on both accounts. In addition to having a female thriving in the scientific field, she was also recovering from a brain injury that affected her speech. Penhaligon brought two underutilized romance categories to the forefront in a lovely combination bound to make you say “Eureka!”.
Seraphina and Milo's courtship was sweet as pie and I loved their progression from friendship to a serious relationship. They were so tender with each other and had very open communication. They constantly shared their feelings and it was such a welcome feature not often seen in modern romances. I can always appreciate a hero who is not ashamed to discuss his emotions with the heroine. The bar is pretty low for fictional men, but Milo cleared it with ease. While the couple did provide plenty of warm fuzzies, their more carnal moments weren't too shabby either. I'm happy to get a little sugar and spice to help balance my overall reading experience.
My only complaint was a slight dip in interest near the last quarter of the book. There was a scene where our heroine overheard some mean girl gossip in the bathroom and Seraphina ran out crying. It seemed very juvenile and out of place for an adult romance novel. Otherwise, this was a lovely unique book that I'm pleased to have read. All the ingredients were well researched and the author confirmed her hypothesis for a successful love story. Whether it's the amount of funds needed for scientific research or the amount of times you say "I love you", we can all indeed agree that there is safety in numbers.
Fresh off my enjoyment of The Love Hypothesis, Safety in Numbers seemed like the next logical choice for a STEM based romance. Our heroine Seraphina was brimming with intelligence and had a gentle heart as big as her brain. This book had the nice gentle pace of a rowboat in comparison to the fast paced waverunner romances I’ve read this year. The full throttle books lacked character development and offered no friendship alongside the couple’s chemistry, thankfully Safety in Numbers delivered on both accounts. In addition to having a female thriving in the scientific field, she was also recovering from a brain injury that affected her speech. Penhaligon brought two underutilized romance categories to the forefront in a lovely combination bound to make you say “Eureka!”.
Seraphina and Milo's courtship was sweet as pie and I loved their progression from friendship to a serious relationship. They were so tender with each other and had very open communication. They constantly shared their feelings and it was such a welcome feature not often seen in modern romances. I can always appreciate a hero who is not ashamed to discuss his emotions with the heroine. The bar is pretty low for fictional men, but Milo cleared it with ease. While the couple did provide plenty of warm fuzzies, their more carnal moments weren't too shabby either. I'm happy to get a little sugar and spice to help balance my overall reading experience.
My only complaint was a slight dip in interest near the last quarter of the book. There was a scene where our heroine overheard some mean girl gossip in the bathroom and Seraphina ran out crying. It seemed very juvenile and out of place for an adult romance novel. Otherwise, this was a lovely unique book that I'm pleased to have read. All the ingredients were well researched and the author confirmed her hypothesis for a successful love story. Whether it's the amount of funds needed for scientific research or the amount of times you say "I love you", we can all indeed agree that there is safety in numbers.
December 13, 2021
QOTD: What time do you go to bed?
My A: Honestly... like 2-3am. I know, I know, it’s awful. I’ve been a raging insomniac since I was a child and all the medication, yoga and sleep schedules in the world haven't fixed it so I’ve given into being nocturnal.
.
Get ready to add yet another book to your TBR for 2022! Sophie Penhaligon’s novel, Safety in Numbers, is a feel-good workplace romance. Fast paced and low angst, there were moments of predictability, but I never mind that if the characters can carry the story. I’m totally a sucker for the ‘I hate everyone but you’ trope and Milo is the perfect example of this. He’s rough around the edges and a total jerk, but he just melts for Seraphina. Swoon!! I admit, I would’ve liked more of a build up between them and more of their outside of work life, but I’ve been really loving the science/lab workplaces in romances lately! I also feel like the representation on TBI and Serephina’s day to day struggles were written well and obviously researched. All in all, a great book!
BLURB:
When a tragic accident leaves mathematician Seraphina Ellis broken and despairing, she is convinced that she will live out the remainder of her life in lonely solitude. Determined to conceal her disability from her co-workers, she hides away in her desolate cubicle, crossing off the days of her life, unfulfilled and defeated. A chance meeting with irascible but mesmerizing billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant provides her with the job of her dreams, and the chance of escape from cubicle land. But Grant is haunted by his own monsters and is increasingly interested in more than just her mathematical magic. In this touching and sexually charged contemporary romance novel, Sophie Penhaligon manages to deliver a novel that is lighthearted and fun whilst dealing with the difficult topics of loss and disability.
My A: Honestly... like 2-3am. I know, I know, it’s awful. I’ve been a raging insomniac since I was a child and all the medication, yoga and sleep schedules in the world haven't fixed it so I’ve given into being nocturnal.
.
Get ready to add yet another book to your TBR for 2022! Sophie Penhaligon’s novel, Safety in Numbers, is a feel-good workplace romance. Fast paced and low angst, there were moments of predictability, but I never mind that if the characters can carry the story. I’m totally a sucker for the ‘I hate everyone but you’ trope and Milo is the perfect example of this. He’s rough around the edges and a total jerk, but he just melts for Seraphina. Swoon!! I admit, I would’ve liked more of a build up between them and more of their outside of work life, but I’ve been really loving the science/lab workplaces in romances lately! I also feel like the representation on TBI and Serephina’s day to day struggles were written well and obviously researched. All in all, a great book!
BLURB:
When a tragic accident leaves mathematician Seraphina Ellis broken and despairing, she is convinced that she will live out the remainder of her life in lonely solitude. Determined to conceal her disability from her co-workers, she hides away in her desolate cubicle, crossing off the days of her life, unfulfilled and defeated. A chance meeting with irascible but mesmerizing billionaire scientist and CEO Milo Grant provides her with the job of her dreams, and the chance of escape from cubicle land. But Grant is haunted by his own monsters and is increasingly interested in more than just her mathematical magic. In this touching and sexually charged contemporary romance novel, Sophie Penhaligon manages to deliver a novel that is lighthearted and fun whilst dealing with the difficult topics of loss and disability.
December 29, 2021
Safety in Numbers is written in the first person narrative and follows the romance between Seraphina and Milo. Seraphina is a brilliant mathematician whose life completely changed after a car accident left her with brain trauma. After recovering, she gets a job where she hides her disability from her coworkers and maintains a life of solitude. Milo is the CEO of the company, a brilliant scientist, but a complete jerk. After a chance encounter in the elevator, Milo finds that Seraphina would be the perfect research assistant. Despite both battling their own demons, romance blooms and they both find out they might be exactly what the other needs.
STEM heroine, disability representation, workplace romance, billionaire boyfriend, nerdy couple, ‘I hate everyone but you’ male… there is no shortage of tropes here. As a woman in STEM, I’m so drawn to these types of stories. I was looking for a book similar to The Kiss Quotient and The Love Hypothesis and this one didn’t hold a candle to those. Definitely a heavier read than anticipated, which I normally enjoy but there was a lot of opportunities here. I feel Seraphina had so much potential to be a great heroine. I’m unsure how well Seraphina’s brain trauma is written but she came across as quite ableist and was clearly ashamed of her disability… I understand how hard it must be to adjust to your new reality but I hoped she was able to overcome that by the end of the book and she never really did. The book blurbs Seraphina as ‘broken’ and that just didn’t sit well with me right from the start. She also placed her entire value in her relationship with Milo and was pleased because she thought her disability meant that no one would ever love her, which she talked about incessantly. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style and I really didn’t like Milo’s selfish inner dialogue. Milo was a jealous creep and might be my least favorite male love interest in a long while. Overall, there are much better STEM romances and I would like to find a more well-done romance centered around a disabled protagonist.
Thank you Netgalley, Sophie Penhaligon, and BooksGoSocial for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 1/03/2022
STEM heroine, disability representation, workplace romance, billionaire boyfriend, nerdy couple, ‘I hate everyone but you’ male… there is no shortage of tropes here. As a woman in STEM, I’m so drawn to these types of stories. I was looking for a book similar to The Kiss Quotient and The Love Hypothesis and this one didn’t hold a candle to those. Definitely a heavier read than anticipated, which I normally enjoy but there was a lot of opportunities here. I feel Seraphina had so much potential to be a great heroine. I’m unsure how well Seraphina’s brain trauma is written but she came across as quite ableist and was clearly ashamed of her disability… I understand how hard it must be to adjust to your new reality but I hoped she was able to overcome that by the end of the book and she never really did. The book blurbs Seraphina as ‘broken’ and that just didn’t sit well with me right from the start. She also placed her entire value in her relationship with Milo and was pleased because she thought her disability meant that no one would ever love her, which she talked about incessantly. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style and I really didn’t like Milo’s selfish inner dialogue. Milo was a jealous creep and might be my least favorite male love interest in a long while. Overall, there are much better STEM romances and I would like to find a more well-done romance centered around a disabled protagonist.
Thank you Netgalley, Sophie Penhaligon, and BooksGoSocial for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub date: 1/03/2022
January 1, 2022
First things first - I adored the cover. It is adorable! I love reading about women in STEM. I really liked the first ~50% and learning about how Seraphina came back from her traumatic brain injury and the different systems and routines she had in place to help with her aphasia. I also liked learning how her and Milo got to know each other, and how easily they understood each other.
•
I was really excited to hear more about her work in STEM, but once she and Milo got together, it was all about sex and there was very little time or words spent on work.
•
The bedroom scenes had some cringey dialogue, and Milo’s internal and verbal dialogue seemed too immature, young for his age and status as a CEO.
•
My biggest issue was closer to the end. There were some major HIPPA issues with the doctor/psychiatrist at the end, and that they said having someone with a “worse” disability in her life is helpful to remind Seraphina of how much worse her life could be is really, really disappointing. People are people, and those with disabilities are not a prop or trophy.
•
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
•
I was really excited to hear more about her work in STEM, but once she and Milo got together, it was all about sex and there was very little time or words spent on work.
•
The bedroom scenes had some cringey dialogue, and Milo’s internal and verbal dialogue seemed too immature, young for his age and status as a CEO.
•
My biggest issue was closer to the end. There were some major HIPPA issues with the doctor/psychiatrist at the end, and that they said having someone with a “worse” disability in her life is helpful to remind Seraphina of how much worse her life could be is really, really disappointing. People are people, and those with disabilities are not a prop or trophy.
•
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, BooksGoSocial, for the advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 2, 2021
This is my first Sophie Penhaligon book, but surely it won't be the last.
Safety in Numbers is a funny and sweet read, there was some heavy themes covered, but it was all worthy. The character felt very real, and I liked the connection they had. We saw Seraphina struggling to admit to herself that it's alright to be different, that there isn't anything bad about it. Both of the main characters have suffered a lot, so to see them being happy,made me happy. The only thing I didn't like was the insta-love, but I was very pleased to see them working on their demons. Especially how Seraphina started to improve even more after some time with Milo. Milo on the other side, was a very funny character. I fell in love with him almost as fast as he did with Seraphina. Iliked how she defended him in front of his father, after his childhood. He finally had someone who would fight for him. Three of my favorite side characters- Lara, Molly and Robbie. I would've loved to see more from Billy and Seraphina's friendship.
Overall, I loved it!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
Safety in Numbers is a funny and sweet read, there was some heavy themes covered, but it was all worthy. The character felt very real, and I liked the connection they had. We saw Seraphina struggling to admit to herself that it's alright to be different, that there isn't anything bad about it. Both of the main characters have suffered a lot, so to see them being happy,made me happy. The only thing I didn't like was the insta-love, but I was very pleased to see them working on their demons. Especially how Seraphina started to improve even more after some time with Milo. Milo on the other side, was a very funny character. I fell in love with him almost as fast as he did with Seraphina. Iliked how she defended him in front of his father, after his childhood. He finally had someone who would fight for him. Three of my favorite side characters- Lara, Molly and Robbie. I would've loved to see more from Billy and Seraphina's friendship.
Overall, I loved it!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
December 14, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocual for lending me a virtual arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, this book was a very light and easy read. If you want something upbeat and centered around romance, then this book is for you.
However I struggled with it being centered around a woman in the stem field. I felt that once Seraphina and Milo were together, we did not see any aspect of Seraphina’s career or outside life at all. I also have an issue where one of the romantic partners does not have solid relationships outside of the romantic relationship. Other relationships were mentioned, but you didn’t see them until the very ending. I felt that this book also relied on the catty women stereotype and that only certain types of women can be in stem.
I did have strong opinions on how the book approached Seraphina’s TBI, however I have not experienced or know of someone who has a TBI to speak from any solid ground, but I did feel like the book didn’t do it justice. That after the first 1/3 of the book, it was only used as a plot device and an after thought when it couldn’t serve the story.
Lastly, I felt it was lacking substance. After a certain point it felt like a hallmark movie, for lack of a better phrase. And while I live hallmark movies, I don’t appreciate them when I’m expecting a relatively strong and nuanced product. This book started off with so much potential, but quickly fell flat.
Overall, this book was a very light and easy read. If you want something upbeat and centered around romance, then this book is for you.
However I struggled with it being centered around a woman in the stem field. I felt that once Seraphina and Milo were together, we did not see any aspect of Seraphina’s career or outside life at all. I also have an issue where one of the romantic partners does not have solid relationships outside of the romantic relationship. Other relationships were mentioned, but you didn’t see them until the very ending. I felt that this book also relied on the catty women stereotype and that only certain types of women can be in stem.
I did have strong opinions on how the book approached Seraphina’s TBI, however I have not experienced or know of someone who has a TBI to speak from any solid ground, but I did feel like the book didn’t do it justice. That after the first 1/3 of the book, it was only used as a plot device and an after thought when it couldn’t serve the story.
Lastly, I felt it was lacking substance. After a certain point it felt like a hallmark movie, for lack of a better phrase. And while I live hallmark movies, I don’t appreciate them when I’m expecting a relatively strong and nuanced product. This book started off with so much potential, but quickly fell flat.
December 29, 2021
"For me there was safety in numbers; you could always rely on them"
Seraphina Ellis, a mathematician suffers from brain injury after a tragic accident. Due to this injury she is unable to remember words and form complete sentences. After months of rest and recovery she is now searching for job but does not want to disclose her medical condition.
Milo Grant is the CEO of Grant technologies where Seraphina is recruited. Based on Seraphina's qualification Milo hires her as a research assistant.
I liked the connection between Milo and Seraphina and how Milo pushed her into new environments bit by bit. The only thing I didn't like was the insta-love.
Seraphina Ellis, a mathematician suffers from brain injury after a tragic accident. Due to this injury she is unable to remember words and form complete sentences. After months of rest and recovery she is now searching for job but does not want to disclose her medical condition.
Milo Grant is the CEO of Grant technologies where Seraphina is recruited. Based on Seraphina's qualification Milo hires her as a research assistant.
I liked the connection between Milo and Seraphina and how Milo pushed her into new environments bit by bit. The only thing I didn't like was the insta-love.
December 10, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for proving this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Very sweet romance! They were so wholesome but had a hidden fiery side.
Premise: This book was intriguing because the main character is a woman in STEM. Seraphina Ellis is a mathematician and computer science wiz, she also suffered a traumatic injury leaving her with a mental disability that impairs her speech and word recognition. To avoid embarrassment, she acts shy in social interactions.
Plot: The story takes place some months after her injury as she is trying to get back into the work force and explore her independence. Queue the CEO, Dr. Milo Grant, of the billion dollar company she is working at. He’s hot, he’s a genius, he’s a grumpy jerk, and he’s very interested in her. Their romance begins once she becomes his research assistant. Things kick off pretty quickly between them after that but it makes sense for his character since he goes after what he wants with tenacity.
Characters: Seraphina had good development and grew a lot throughout the book, however I wanted more for Milo. He also suffered from a lot of trauma and insecurity but we didn’t get to see him face a lot of that. Seraphina was aided by Milo and her rehab team to face her own issues and become empowered by her disability. But I wanted Milo be seen as a better boss/CEO, maybe trust his management more and focus on his research, something. He just felt a little incomplete and immature, I’d have liked to see him grow up more and face more of his insecurities.
Romance: They were a couple who is sweet in the streets and steamy in the sheets! Holy hell, wasn’t expecting that! I liked how Milo was immediately intrigued by Seraphina, and never judged her. He was so accepting. In fact he was encouraging, often telling her how competent and intelligent she is. She was so smart, even if she had a hard time articulating herself out loud. He was so open and really did his best to improve her independence while simultaneously taking such care of her. He was a lovely romance hero! They had a lot of fluffy moments, and good conversation— her speech improved a LOT just from opening up to him. He never pressured or rushed her, and I loved that Seraphina took a lot of initiative and control. She was low key such a dominate lover! It was unexpected but Milo was very into it. He even guessed that she was hiding her fiery side, and he was so right!
This is a pretty adorable and quick read. I recommend for lovers of Kiss Quotient and The Love Hypothesis.
Very sweet romance! They were so wholesome but had a hidden fiery side.
Premise: This book was intriguing because the main character is a woman in STEM. Seraphina Ellis is a mathematician and computer science wiz, she also suffered a traumatic injury leaving her with a mental disability that impairs her speech and word recognition. To avoid embarrassment, she acts shy in social interactions.
Plot: The story takes place some months after her injury as she is trying to get back into the work force and explore her independence. Queue the CEO, Dr. Milo Grant, of the billion dollar company she is working at. He’s hot, he’s a genius, he’s a grumpy jerk, and he’s very interested in her. Their romance begins once she becomes his research assistant. Things kick off pretty quickly between them after that but it makes sense for his character since he goes after what he wants with tenacity.
Characters: Seraphina had good development and grew a lot throughout the book, however I wanted more for Milo. He also suffered from a lot of trauma and insecurity but we didn’t get to see him face a lot of that. Seraphina was aided by Milo and her rehab team to face her own issues and become empowered by her disability. But I wanted Milo be seen as a better boss/CEO, maybe trust his management more and focus on his research, something. He just felt a little incomplete and immature, I’d have liked to see him grow up more and face more of his insecurities.
Romance: They were a couple who is sweet in the streets and steamy in the sheets! Holy hell, wasn’t expecting that! I liked how Milo was immediately intrigued by Seraphina, and never judged her. He was so accepting. In fact he was encouraging, often telling her how competent and intelligent she is. She was so smart, even if she had a hard time articulating herself out loud. He was so open and really did his best to improve her independence while simultaneously taking such care of her. He was a lovely romance hero! They had a lot of fluffy moments, and good conversation— her speech improved a LOT just from opening up to him. He never pressured or rushed her, and I loved that Seraphina took a lot of initiative and control. She was low key such a dominate lover! It was unexpected but Milo was very into it. He even guessed that she was hiding her fiery side, and he was so right!
This is a pretty adorable and quick read. I recommend for lovers of Kiss Quotient and The Love Hypothesis.
December 14, 2021
Thank you to the publisher, BooksGoSocial, and the author for letting me read an ARC of this amazing romantic story through NetGalley.
TRIGGER WARNING for: child trauma, brain injury, recovery, disability
"For me there was safety in numbers; you could always rely on them"
"My life was automated to the extreme, but it was the only way I could make it through"
"So, I'm in the presence of a fiery angel, am I? I feel like I should be on my knees"
Saying that I loved this book would be wrong. I adored it!
This was exactly the balm I needed ,during an hard time, to make me remember that everyday we should have a reason to be thankful to be here and be loved!
For fans of "The Kiss Quotient" series, here comes a book that deals with brain injury, disability and survival while creating a sweet, romantic and spicy cloud, all around it, to soften the atmosphere and our hearts.
I loved every second of reading it ... I definitely couldn't put it down.
It was amazing to read: the plot, the romance, the struggle, the difficulties and how the characters face them... it was amazing to feel invited to it and share their story.
It was fascinating how Seraphina used math and logic, and any form of science for that matter, to deal with her trauma and try to rationalise everything she was going through. And it was amazing how strong she was by facing each struggle and each fall everyday and got even stronger after it.
I was in love for the romance ... how it developed, how it grew and how, despite everything, it endured!
I'm really glad I read this book and I can't wait for everyone else to get into it!
"At that moment I knew I had to have her. I didn't care about her challenges or her past; I needed her to be mine"
"Now that the beast had been released from the cage, there was no getting her back in"
"You're like a beautiful, intricate puzzle, Seraphina. Just when I think I've figured you out, I uncover another side of you"
TRIGGER WARNING for: child trauma, brain injury, recovery, disability
"For me there was safety in numbers; you could always rely on them"
"My life was automated to the extreme, but it was the only way I could make it through"
"So, I'm in the presence of a fiery angel, am I? I feel like I should be on my knees"
Saying that I loved this book would be wrong. I adored it!
This was exactly the balm I needed ,during an hard time, to make me remember that everyday we should have a reason to be thankful to be here and be loved!
For fans of "The Kiss Quotient" series, here comes a book that deals with brain injury, disability and survival while creating a sweet, romantic and spicy cloud, all around it, to soften the atmosphere and our hearts.
I loved every second of reading it ... I definitely couldn't put it down.
It was amazing to read: the plot, the romance, the struggle, the difficulties and how the characters face them... it was amazing to feel invited to it and share their story.
It was fascinating how Seraphina used math and logic, and any form of science for that matter, to deal with her trauma and try to rationalise everything she was going through. And it was amazing how strong she was by facing each struggle and each fall everyday and got even stronger after it.
I was in love for the romance ... how it developed, how it grew and how, despite everything, it endured!
I'm really glad I read this book and I can't wait for everyone else to get into it!
"At that moment I knew I had to have her. I didn't care about her challenges or her past; I needed her to be mine"
"Now that the beast had been released from the cage, there was no getting her back in"
"You're like a beautiful, intricate puzzle, Seraphina. Just when I think I've figured you out, I uncover another side of you"
January 9, 2022
This was such an amazing and inspiring story!
"I could tell that my answer did not satisfy him, and I didn’t want to tease him. Something told me this was important to him. My lost boy had a fragile heart, despite appearances to the contrary. Setting down my cutlery, I grabbed his hand. “Yes, Milo. The answer is yes. I have it bad for you.”
His entire countenance changed, and his face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. This was the real Milo, I decided. Not the one who stomped around Grant Innovations like the big bad wolf, causing nervous interns to quit the same day they started. He looked so much younger and a lot more peaceful, and at that moment, I swore to myself that I would put that look on his face as often as I could. He was fighting monsters the same way I was. They were just different monsters."
"I still believed in safety in numbers, but my belief system had changed a little over the last year. Now I also believed in the power of one, because one was all I really needed. My mom’s words echoed in my head, “when you meet him, you’ll know.” At the time, I hadn’t believed her, but now I was in Milo’s arms, I realized everything she had said was true."
“Now you have a guardian angel too,” I told him, wiping the tears from his cheeks with my thumbs.
“Sweetheart, I’ve had a guardian angel since the day you walked into my life. My elevator angel. My fiery one. My Seraphina.”
December 20, 2021
This book was provided to me from NetGalley as an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book starts off well, and has an appealling premise if - like me - you enjoy an easy romantic comedy, and dark and grumpy falls for sunshiney goodness trope. Milo's character starts off interesting, and Seraphima's situation has promise.
About half way through it starts to feel excessively cringe, with tropes I am not as much into or even okay with.
And then it just falls a part from there. I was looking forward to a strong female lead, but Seraphima's character has very little growth and is steeped in so much ableism (she persistently believes she does not deserve to be in a relationship because of her aphasia...) Milo is supposedly a grumpy asshole who starts off just soft for Seraphima but ends up just being a soft limp noodle in general with insane jealousy issues. Milo's backstory is barely touched on and a lot of things get blown into Big Deal Issues that really are not (swearing off relationships because of one superficial woman?)
There is no real heat or chemistry. No anticipation that I usually enjoy in a romance book. The ableism gets worse and worse. The setting is America but the characters often speak as though they - like the author - were born and raised in England. And as they come together as a couple about half way through the book, the second half of the book is almost nauseating with the lovey doveyness.
If you want a truly fluffy-bordering-on-cringe romance with very little substance, you may enjoy this. It certainly has some cute moments. But if you prefer your disability rep to not be trite inspiration porn, please do yourself a favour and pass on this. Also not for you if you like to see actual character growth and not just characters consumed by over the top love.
This book starts off well, and has an appealling premise if - like me - you enjoy an easy romantic comedy, and dark and grumpy falls for sunshiney goodness trope. Milo's character starts off interesting, and Seraphima's situation has promise.
About half way through it starts to feel excessively cringe, with tropes I am not as much into or even okay with.
And then it just falls a part from there. I was looking forward to a strong female lead, but Seraphima's character has very little growth and is steeped in so much ableism (she persistently believes she does not deserve to be in a relationship because of her aphasia...) Milo is supposedly a grumpy asshole who starts off just soft for Seraphima but ends up just being a soft limp noodle in general with insane jealousy issues. Milo's backstory is barely touched on and a lot of things get blown into Big Deal Issues that really are not (swearing off relationships because of one superficial woman?)
There is no real heat or chemistry. No anticipation that I usually enjoy in a romance book. The ableism gets worse and worse. The setting is America but the characters often speak as though they - like the author - were born and raised in England. And as they come together as a couple about half way through the book, the second half of the book is almost nauseating with the lovey doveyness.
If you want a truly fluffy-bordering-on-cringe romance with very little substance, you may enjoy this. It certainly has some cute moments. But if you prefer your disability rep to not be trite inspiration porn, please do yourself a favour and pass on this. Also not for you if you like to see actual character growth and not just characters consumed by over the top love.
December 12, 2021
Firstly this books cover does it no justice at all! It seems to be sold as a workplace romance your typical newbie falling for the scary boss but.. it is SO much more! Seraphina is a wonderful, complex character that you instantly fall in love with- Sophie beautifully explores sensitive topics that we as a society don’t speak about enough; disability and loss. A real insight into language disorders and how they can be all consuming- Seraphina’s entire life changes over night and we get to see how troubling it is to not be able to access information. I can’t even imagine losing access to things like the name of a lemon! Thank you for bringing us this book Sophie and showing us how we can support people with language disorders.
March 4, 2022
This started out strong. I was fascinated by the routines Seraphina established to keep herself organized and stress free. I found the explanation of aphasia and how she deals with it so interesting. But it (not just the routines) became repetitive and this slowed the development of the characters and took me out of the story. Their romance was sweet but it felt like something was missing. There was no real chemistry, although they talked about their chemistry often. And it all sounded the same, was all in the same voice despite being divided up into different chapters for Seraphina and Milo. With some editing and more character development, I could have really enjoyed this.
March 4, 2022
Once I got into this book, I couldn't stop reading it. I was on my phone in the car, at school, before bed... literally everywhere. It has every single trope you'd ever need: boss x assistant, overcoming trauma, pushing the boundaries, and tons of romance ;) Thank you so much to Sophie Penhaligon's team and Netgalley for this amazing ARC!
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